Corn picker



All8- 13' 1940 w. J. couL'rAs ET AL 2,210,973l

conn PICKER Filed Jan. 12, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet l L. am

Fra-'1 IJNVENTORS WlLBUR COULTAS NOLAN D.- CQLVIN ATTORNEYS.

Aug 13 1940. w. J. cOuL-{As ETAI. 2,210,973

CORN PICKER lFiled Jan. 12. 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS WILBUR J. COULTAS NOLAN D COLVIN Y ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 13, l940 w. J. couLTAs Er Al.

CORN PICKER Filed Jan. 12, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet. 4

wLBUR J. couLTAs NoLAN D coLvm ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 13,V 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE coaN Helma Application January 12, 1939, Serial No. 250,516

24 Claims.

This invention relates generally to corn pickers and is more particularly concerned with com pickers of the two-row pull type machine Aadapted to be propelled by, and to derive operating power 5 from, a farm tractor.

The object and general nature of this invention is the provision of a corn picker in which the snapping rolls and ear elevator are mounted on a frame th-at is rigidly secured to the axle u of the machine, and in which the husking mechanism is supported on a generally fore and aft extending draft frame that is`pivotally connected to the axle.

One of the advantages of this construction is that, by fixing the snapping roll frame rigidly to the axle and pivoting the snapping roll and elevator mechanism and the rigidly connecting axle stantially level so as to operate to the best ad.

vantage, and this result is secured in the present invention by mounting the husking unit on the draft frame. Normally, the draft frame remains in substantially horizontal position, thus maintaining the husking unit level, while thevertically swinging movement, of the snapping roll unit, 3 which is provided so as to adjust the forward-ends of the snapping rolls closer to or further away from the ground, takes place about the axis of the ground wheels and the rigid axle to which the snapping roll frame is rigidly connected. Ad- 35 justment of the snapping roll unit to vary the height of operation thereof does not change the portion of the husking unit and draft is applied to the snapping roll unit to propel the same along the row' or rows in direct manner, namely,

40 through the rigid axle to which the frame of the snapping roll unit is rigidly fixed, 'I'hc axle, which is strongly constructed so as to support the weight of the unit can thus serve without additional bracing and other additional parts which usually are necessary where the pivot axis between the snapping roll frame and the relatively stationary portion of the machine is placed away from the axle axis.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a new and improved husking roll hopper, one end of the hopper being supported on the relatively stationary husking unit whilethe other end is supported on the pivotally mounted snapping roll unit in a position to receive ears of corn from the elevator thereof, such support being constructed so as to accommodate the relative movement that takes place between the husking unit and the snapping roll unit .while the latter is adjusted .relative to the' draft frame. In this connection, a further object of this invention 5 is to provide an improved fan construction for removing loose leaves and other trash from the snapped ears of corn as they are conveyed by the hopper or chute from the elevator of the snapping roll unit to the husking roll unit. Specifically, it is an object of this invention to mount the fan so that a blast of air therefrom blows over the ears of corn for substantially the entire distance that they travel in the hopper. Heretofore cleaning fans and the like have been provided, but generally they are arranged to direct the blast of air against the ears of corn as they fall from a chute or similar means into the husking unit. Thus, according to the present invention, the ears of corn are subject to a cleaning blast of air for a much longer period of time than in prior machines, thereby insuring that only clean ears of corn will be delivered to the husking unit.

It is another-feature of this invention to provide simplified driving connections for driving25 the snapping rolls, ear elevator, and husking means from the tractor motor, and to this end the present invention contemplates a transverse drive shaft mounted by suitable means on the snapping roll frame unit closely adjacent the axle 30 to which the frame is rigidly secured, and said transverse shaft is connected to drive the snapy ping rolls and the elevator, and being in turn driven through suitable universal joint connections from driving means carried by the draft 35 frame, which driving means is directly connected to drive the husking unit carrier by the draft frame.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a considerationof the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: A 45 Figure 1 is a plan view of a corn picker constructed according to the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a rear view of the corn picker shown in Figure l; 50

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the corn picker shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken generally along the line 4--4 of Figure l, showing certain details of the snapping roll unit and the means for adjusting the latter relative to the draft frame; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view, taken generally along the line 5-5 of Figures 1 and 3.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the picking or snapping roll unit is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral I0 and is adapted to be pulled by a tractor. The latter also pulls a wagon through a suitable hitch H. 'I'he snapping roll unit I0 includes a supporting framework, indicated generally in Figure 3 by the reference numeral II, which is supported on a transverse axle I2. A spindle I3 (Figure 1) is fixed to each end of the axle I2 and receives a ground wheel I4 which is journaled for rotation on the spindle by suitable bearing means. The axle I2 preferably comprises a strong, rigid pipe or tube I6, best shown in Figures 3 and 4. Collars I1 are bolted, as at I0 (Figure 2), to the ends of the pipe I6, and the collars I1 receive the spindles or stub axles I 3.

The snapping roll frame II, which also carries the first elevator that delivers the ears of corn from the snapping mechanism to the husking mechanism, consists of inner and outer snapping roll frame angles 2| which are fixed in downwardly and forwardly inclined position to upwardly and forwardly extending brackets 22 and longitudinally extending adjustable angle braces 23. Each bracket 22 and the associated adjustable angle brace 23 is bolted or otherwise fixed to a plate 25 that is welded to the axle pipe I6.

The snapping roll angles 2| of the framework support two pairs 30 and 3| of snapping rolls, the upper ends of the rolls of each pair being journaled for rotation in a snapping roll gear housing 32 that is bolted, as at 34 (Figure 4)', to the upper ends of the angles 2|. The snapping rolls of each pair are connected by suitable gears in the associated housing 32, such gearing including a transverse shaft 35 that extends laterally inwardly of the picking unit I0 from each housing 32. A pair of laterally outer gatherer chains 38 are mounted on suitable sprockets and carried in any suitable manner by the framework II, the upper sprockets upon which the chains 38 are supported being fixed to a shaft 39 that is carried by a gatherer chain drive housing 40, and the housing 40 is supported upon a plate 4|' (Figure 4) that is fixed by suitable braces 42 and 43 to the frame angle 2|. A drive shaft 45 extends upwardly and rearwardly from the gatherer chain drive housing 40 and at its upper end carries a sprocket 46 over which a chain 41 is trained. The sprocket 46 is connected by suitable slip clutch mechanism 48 with the gatherer chain drive shaft 45.

The chain 41 is trained around and'driven from a sprocket xed to one of the snapping roll shafts, and as best shown in Figure 4, a sprocket 50 forward of the slip Clutch mechanism 48 receives a chain 5| which extends over suitable idler sprockets and drives a sprocket fixed to a shaft 53 (Figure 2) that drives the inner gatherer chain 54 (Figure l) The shaft 35 of the snapping roll drive housing 32 is driven by a sprocket chain 56 from a sprocket 51 (Figure 4) which is fixed to a transverse snapping roll drive shaft 60 which extends alongside and closely adjacent to the axle I2, as best indicated in Figure 2. The shaft 60 is supported by suitable bearings bolted to brackets 6I that are fixed to rearwardly extending angles 62 (Figures 3 and 4),'and the angles 62, in turn, are connected to the plates 25 that are welded to the pipe I0. Since there are two sets of snapping rolls, the shaft 00 carries two sprockets 51, and suitable slip clutch means 54 (Figure 2) connects each of the sprockets 51 to the shaft 00.

The elevator that receives the ears of corn from the snapping rolls 30 and Il is indicated in Figures 2 and 3 by the reference numeral 10 and includes suitable side sheets 1I and 12 which are connected at their lower ends to the upper extensions 14'and 15. respectively, of the laterally outer gatherer sheets 11 and 13. 'Ihe elevator also includes a bottom sheet 0I over which a pair of elevator chains 02 and 03, connected by flights 85, run. The upper portions af the elevator chains 02 and 03 operate over sprockets 81 (Figure 3) that are xed to an elevator driving shaft 80. At their lower ends the chains 02 and 03 are trained over suitable sprockets fixed to an idler shaft (not shown). A driving spocket is fixed to the right hand end (Figure 2) of the elevator drive shaft 03 and receives a driving chain 9| which extends downwardly and is trained over a sprocket 52 Figure 4) fixed to the inner end of a drive shaft 03, the outer end of which receives a sprocket 94 that is connected to the shaft 93 by suitable slip clutch mechanism 96 (Figure 2). The sprocket 94 is driven by a chain 81 which is trained over a sprocket fixed to the shaft 35 (Figure 2) alongside the sprocket that drives the chain 56.

Thus, by virtue of the connections described above, the drive shaft 60 that is carried on the snapping roll frame II closely adjacent the axle I2 serves to drive the snapping rolls 30 and 3|, the gatherer chains 38 and 54, and the elevator 10.

The draft frame is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral |00 and, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, is made up of the channels |0| and I 02 and an angle |03 (Figures 1 and 5). the

latter being secured at its forward end to the channel |0| and extending substantially directly rearwardly beyond the rear end of the other channel |02 and connected at its rear end by a cross brace to the rear portion of the channel |0I. The inner and outer channel members IOI and |02 extend generally longitudinally but diverge rearwardly. The channels IOI and |02 are connected together at their forward ends and are connected by a suitable clevis (not shown) to the tractor draw bar so that the weight of the front end of th draft frame |00 is supported by the tractor. At a number of points the channels |0| and 02 are reinforced by suitable brace angles |08.

The channels I0| and I 02 and the angle I 03 extend rearwardly beyond the right hand portion of the axle I2, as best shown in Figure 2, and at the points where the channels |0I and |02 pass under the axle, attaching yokes III and H2, generally U-shaped in construction, are provided. The yokes III and II2 embrace the axle in laterally spaced relation and have fins II3 which are apertured to receive bolts I I4 (Figure 4) by which the yokes |I| and II2 are bolted to the channels IOI and |02. A yoke II5 is bolted to the angle member |03, as best indicated in Figure 2. Thus, the yokes III, II2 and I I5 support the weight of the draft frame |00 and associated parts on the axle I2. The yokes III, I|2 and IIS permit the axle I2 to have rocking motion about a transverse axis relative to the draft frame |00, sc that the latter is supported on the axle I2 and the tractor and remains generally level during operation. n

' Ihe rear ends of the draft frame members Il I.

|02 and |03 overhang rearwardly. as mentioned above, and furnish a convenient support for the husking mechanism, indicated in its entirety in Figures 1, 2 and 3 by the reference numeral |25. VThe husking unit includes the usual husking'box |26, within which conventional husking rolls |21 are mounted for rotation inI slightly downwardly inclined position, and side sheets |28 forming a receiving section. The husking rolls are mounted in suitable bearings |29 and at their upper or right hand ends (Figure 5) carry meshing spur gears |30 which cause the rolls |21 to rotate together. The husking rolls are preferably arranged in pairs. and each pair is driven by a bevel gear |31 from a meshing bevel gear |32 fixed to a transverse drive shaft |33. The gears |30, |3| and |32 are enclosed by' a shield or housing |36. The lower bearings |29 for the husking rolls are protected by a shield '|35 xed to the sides of the husking box |26 in any suitable manner.

Disposed over the husking rolls is an ear retarder unit indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral |31. The ear retarder unit |31 consists of a pair of chains |39 and suitable retarder plates'l40 connected by rods to the chains |39. I'he chains operate over pairs of sprockets |4| and |42 fixed, respectively, to shafts |43 and |44. Each of the retarder plates |40 carries an arm (not shown) which operates in conjunction with a pair of ear retarder compression arms which are adjustable to control the positions of the ear retarder plates |40 as they pass over the husking rolls |21. This adjusts the retarders to the condition of the corn. The retarder |31 provides a positive uniform feed for the ears of corn as they pass over the husking rolls, increases the capacity of the latter and, at the same time, tends to force any stalks and trash through the husking roll unit so as to prevent clogging.

Disposed above the ear retarder |31 is a fan which is mounted on a pair of upwardly and laterally extending angles 5| connected across the top of the fan by an angle |52 and braced by downwardly inclined angles |53, as indicated in Figures 1 and 5. The fan l|50 includes a. fan casing |55 within which a fan rotor |56 is mounted for rotation, the rotor including a fan shaft |51. A pulley |58 is xed to one end of the fan shaft |51 and receives a belt |59 which at its lower end passes over -a pulley |6| that is fixed to one end of the husking roll drive shaft |33. The discharge throat |62 of the fan is arranged to direct a blast of air over the ears of corn as they move toward the husking rolls |21.

The drive for the snapping roll unit I0 and the husking mechanism |25 is derived from a power or drive shaft indicated in Figure 1 by the reference numeral |61 which includes shaft sections |68 and |69 connected together by a universal joint |10. The shaft section |68 at its forward end is suitably coupled to the power take-off shaft of the tractor, and the rear end of the other shaft section |69 is connected by a universal joint |13 to a shaft |14 that extends forwardly from a drive housing |15 which is fixed in any suitable manner to the longitudinally extending angle |03 which is secured to the draft frame I 00. A sleeve extension |11 receives a transverse shaft section that is connected by bevel gear means to the longitudinally disposed shaft |14, and the transverse shaft just mentioned is connected by means of a universal joint |8| (Figure 1) to a short j shaft |82 which at its other end is connected by a universal joint |83 to the shaft 60 that drives the snapping rolls. gatherer chains and'ilrst elevator, as described above. The power shaft |81 is supported at an intermediate point by suitable bearing means supported in a bracket |84 secured toa plate |86 that is bolted to the draft frame |00.

The longitudinally disposed. shaft |14 supported within the housing |16 carries a sprocket at its rear end over which o, chain |86 is trained,

the upper end of the latter being trained over a sprocket flxed'to the left hand end (Figure 3) of the shaft |33 which receives the pulley 6|, described above. The ear retarder shaft |44 carries at its inner end (Figure 1) a sprocket that is connected to theshaft by a slip clutch mechanism |8| and which receives a chain |92 that is trained over a sprocket iixed to the husking Vroll shaft |33 (Figures 3 and 5) inside the sprockshelf 226 that consists `of rods 2.21 supports theupper run of the conveyor, which moves in the4 direction of the arrow shown in Figure 5, and flights 228 are carried by the chains 22| and operate over the rods 221. A husk conveyor of this general type is disclosed and claimed in the patent to Louis A. Paradise 1,925,275, issued September 5, 1933. The lower run of the husk conveyor 220 operates over a conveyor pan 23| which has a number of small holes 232 formed therein'. Any shelled corn coming over with the ears into the husking unit |25 drops between the rods 221 and onto the pan from which the ights 228 move the shelled corn toward the wagon elevator. The small holes 232 in the conveyor pan assist in removing any dirt and the like from the shelled corn. Curved guide angles 235 are provided for guiding the drag chains 22| in their movement from the lower idler sprockets 224 up onto the conveyor pan 23|. The chain |92 (Figure 3) extends downwardly from the sprocket on the husking roll drive shaft |33 andpasses around a sprocket fixed to the shaft 236 upon which the husk conveyor drive sprockets 223 are mounted.

Since the husking unit |25 is supported on the draft frame |00, which remains generally level in operation, the drive from the tractor motor is delivered by the power shaft |61 smoothly and positively to the mechanisms of the husking unit. I

Also, the power is delivered to the mechanisms of the snapping roll unit through the shaft |82 and associated universal joints |8| and |83, the latter accommodating the angular movement of the snapping roll unit l0 relative to the draft frame when the forward ends of the snapping roll unit is adjusted. Disposing the shaft `|82 closely adjacent the axle I0, which constitutes the pivot axis about which the picker unit I0 moves with respect to the draft frame |00, materially reduces the angular displacement to which the shaft |82 is subjectedv when the picker unit is adjusted.

The means for receiving the snapped ears of corn from the snapping roll unit and conveying or discharging them into the husking unit |25 is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 240 and, as best shown in Figures 1, 2 and I is disposed so that its discharge throat |62 di-V 5, comprises a chute or hopper having a bottom 24| and sides 242 and 248, the upper and lower ends 244 and 245 being open. One end of the vhusking roll hopper 240 is pivotally mounted on which is swiveled to the intermediate portion of V the bracket 25| by a pivot bolt 251. A hopper support rod 260 (Figure 3) is bolted to one Vside of the elevator 10 and includes a supporting brace 26| which is connected at its lower end to a frame angle 262. A hood 268 is fixed to the upper end of the elevator 10 and directs the ears of corn into the hopper 240.

As will be clear from Figure 5, the fan |60 .fects a blast of air into the hopper 240 at the lower end 245 thereof, the air being directed against the bottom of the hopper more or less uniformly over the entire mass of corn ears coming over from the elevator 10 and directed by the chute or hopper into the husking rolls |26. In some prior constructions, the cleaning fan directs a blast of air across the ears of corn as they fall from a chute or the like, but according to the present invention the air blast from the fan |50 operates on the ears of corn for a much longer period of time, thereby assuring complete removal of all leaves, trash and the like, blowing the same out through the open upper end 244. Thus, whenever the picker unit l is adjusted vertically by swinging the unit and the axle relative to the draft frame about a transverse axis, the upper end of `the hopper 240 moves with the wagon elevator, thereby remaining in operative position with respect to the latter to receive corn therefrom at all times, while the lower end pivots on the rod 241 relative to the receiving section |28 of the huskingbox |26.

The position of a picker unit I0 relative to the longitudinally extending draft and husker supporting frame is controlled by means of a forwardly extending hand lever 215 which is flxed at its rear end to a frame 216 that includes upper and lower angles 211 and 218 and associated cross braces 219. The rear ends of the tilting lever angles 211 and 218 are bolted to the forwardly disposed flange of an angle 28| which, in turn, is bolted to an upright channel or standard `283 which is welded, as at 284, to the axle pipe i6. The channel 283 extends below the axle and receives an adjustable angle brace 286, the forward end of which is adjustably secured, as at 281, to the lower ends of the snapping roll frame members 2| and 4|. The handle 215 constitutes a rigid extension of the frame 216 and carries latch mechanism which cooperates with a notched sector 289, the lower end of which is fixed in any suitable manner to a draft frame |00, preferably, to one of the plates |85 to which the bracket |84 supporting the forward portion of the power shaft |61 is connected. A pair of rods 290 are secured to the upper end of the sector 209 and are bolted toV the draft frame |00'to brace the sector 289. A pair of counterbalancing springs 29d (Figure 1) are ilxed to brackets 295 (Figure 4) carried at the upper end of the standsprocket 828 supportedon a shaft824.

ard 288, and the lower ends o2 the springs 284 are connected to the rear portion of the draft trame underneath the huaking unit |28. Thus, the springs 284 serve to balance the weight of the forward portion of the picker unit Il against the weight of the husklng unit |25 at the rear of the draft frame.

VThe wagon elevator is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 8|8 and comprises sides 8I| and 8|2, and a bottom 8|8 over which a conveyor chain 8|4 moves. The chain 8|4 is provided with flights 8| 5. The elevator 8|! includes a wagon elevator hopper 828 (Figure 5) which is positioned to receive the ears of corn as they are discharged from the husklng rolls |28. The lower end of the elevator chain 8|4 is trained over a 'Ihe wagon elevator shaft 824 is driven by a sprocket chain 826 (Figure l) which is trained over a sprocket wheel connected by a slip clutch 321 to the forwardly extended portion of the shaft 824.

The wagon elevator is supported `by suitable angles 880 which are fixed to the front and rear sides of the husking unit |25. The wagon elevator is braced by angles 88| (Figure 2). Other brace rods may be provided as required.

'I'he operation of the machine described above is substantially as follows:

The picker unit i0 is rigidly carried at the left end of the rigid axle |2, the picker and axle pivoting as a unit about the axis of the supporting wheels |4 when the lever 215 is adjusted to raise or lower the front ends of the picked unit relative to the draft frame. During this relative movement, the swiveled roller support of the upper end of the husker hopper 240 accommodates the slight pivoting of the hopper about the rod 241 upon which the lower end of the hopper is supported. The power takeoff shaft of the tractor is connected to drive the power shaft |61 which, in turn, drives the two shafts journaled for rotation in the drive housing |15. 'I'he shaft |14 drives the mechanisms of the snapping roll unit through the transverse shaft |62 and associated universal joints, and the other shaft carried within the drive housing |15 is connected through suitable sprocket chains to drive the mechanisms of the husking unit and the wagon elevator. Since the husking unit is supported on the draft frame |00, which usually remains level, the husking rolls |21 are all disposed at the right angle to work ellciently and 'qulckly, adjustments of the picking unit relative to the draft frame having no effect upon the position of the husking rolls. In some machines where the husking mechanism is carried by and moves with the picker unit, raising the gatherer points of the picking unit sometimes places the husking mechanism objectionably close to the ground. This is avoided in the present construction. 'I'he entire implement is made strong and sturdy by the rigid connection of the snapping roll frame with the transversely extending axle, and the disposition of the tilting axis between the picking unit and the draft frame and associated husking mechanism in the axis of the supporting wheels provide for simplified connections between the power shaft and the various mechanisms to be driven thereby. J p i While we have shown and described above the preferred structure in which the principles of the present invention have been embodied, it is to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described, but that, in fact, widely different means said draft frame, and an adjustingv lever fixedy may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of our invention.

, What lwe claim, therefore.'and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A corn picker comprising a' transverse axle, supporting wheels journaled for rotation on the ends of the axle, a picking unit frame xed rigidly to said axle, a second frame connected to the axle for rocking movement relative thereto about the axis of said axle, and a husking unit supported on said second frame.

2. A corn pickercomprising a snapping roll unit, ground wheels supporting the latter and said snapping roll unit being swingable vertically about the axis of said .ground wheels, a draft frame connected with said second unit for pivotal movement relative to said snapping roll unit about the axis of said supporting wheels, and a husldng unit carried by said draft frame 'and adapted to receive ears of corn from saidsnapping roll unit.

3. A corn picker comprising a transverse axle, ground Wheels journaled for rotation on the ends thereof, a picker unit including a frame forwardly from and rigidly fixed to said axle, a second frame extending 'generally longitudinally fore and aft of said axle and mounted for pivotal movement on the latter, a husking unit carried rearwardly of said axle on said second frame, the forward portion of the later serving as a draft frame, and means connected between said picker frame and said second frame for adjusting the height of said picker frame relative to the ground.

4. A corn picker comprising a transverse axle. supporting wheels journaled for rotation on the ends of the axle, a generally forwardly extending snapping roll frame fixed rigidly to saidaxle at one side thereof, a second frame extending generally longitudinally fore and aft of said axle and connected to the latter for rocking movement relative thereto, a husking unit supported on said second frame rearwardly of said axle. and spring counterbalancing means extending from said snapping roll frame to said second frame. x

5. A corn pickercomprising a transverse axle member, supporting wheels journaled for rotation at the ends of said axle, a snapping roll unit comprising a snapping roll frame fixed in rigid relation to said axle, two pairs of laterally spaced snapping rolls journaled for rotation on said frame, and a central elevator supported on said snapping roll frame and extending rearwardly from a point between said pairs of snapping rolls, a second frame pivotally mounted on said axle at one side of said snapping roll frame and extending fore and aft of said axle, means for adjusting said snapping roll frame vertically relative to said second frame, and a husking unit supported at the rear end of said second frame in a position to receive ears of corn from said central elevator in any position of adjustment of said snapping roll frame relative to said second frame.

6. A corn picker comprising as rigid axle member, ground wheels journaled on the ends of said axle member, a snapping roll frame rigidly secured to said axle adjacent one endithereof and including snapping rolls and elevator means, a draft frame pivotally supported on said axle adjacent the other end thereof and extending generally fore and aft of said axle, a husking unit supported adjacent the rear portion of said draft frame in a position to receive ears of corn from said elevator, a notched sector connected with rigidly to said axle member alongside said draft frame and adapted to -be latched to said sector for adjustably fixing the posltionsof said snapping roll frame relative to said draft frame and husking unit, movement of said lever swinging said axle `and snappingroll frame about the vaxis of said supporting wheels relativeto said draft frame and said husking unit.

7. A corn picker comprising a rigid transversely disposed axle, supporting wheels ljournaled at the ends o1' said axle, a plurality of plates rigidly secured to said axle in laterally spaced relation, a snapping roll frame rigidly secured to said plates and swingable generally vertically when said axle is rocked about the axis of said supporting wheels, snapping rolls and elevating mechanism carried by said snapping roll frame, a draft frame extending generally foreand aft of said laxle .and connected therewith for relative rocking movement, a husking unit carried at the rear end of said draft frame and positioned thereon to receive ears o1' corn discharged from said elevator, a standard rigidly fixed to said axle between said draft frame and said snapping roll frame, a generally fore and aft extending frame fixed at its rear end to said rigid standard and disposed generally alongside said draft frame, a lever fixedto said fore and aft extending frame, a notched sector fixed to said draft frame, and latch means carried by said lever for adjustable engagement with said sector, movement of said lever toward and away from said draft frame serving to raise' and lower the forward portion of said snapping roll -frame and to rock the latter and said axle about the axis of said supporting wheels relative to said draft frame and said husking unit.

8. A corn picker' comprising a rigid transversely disposed axle, supporting wheels journaled at the ends of said axle, a plurality of plates rigidly secured to said axle in laterally spaced relation, a snapping roll frame rigidly secured to said plates and swingable generally vertically when said axle 'is rocked about the axis of said supporting wheels, snapping rolls and elevating mechanism carried by .said snapping roll frame, a draft frame extending generally for and aft of said axle and secured theretofor relative rocking movement, a husking unit carried at the rear end of said draft frame and positioned thereon to receive ears of corn discharged from said elevator, a standard rigidly fixed to said axle between I said draft frame and said snapping roll frame, counterbalancing springs extending from the upper end of said rigid standard downwardly and rearwardly to the rear portion of said draft frame so as to utilize the weight of said husking unit to balance the weight of the snapping roll unit, a generally` fore and aft extending frame rigidly xed at its rear end to said standard,

a lever fixed to the forward end of said fore ping roll unit, respectively.

10. A corn picker comprising a snapping roll unit including a frame, snapping rolls journaled thereon and an elevator for receiving the snapped ears of corn, a husking unit including a frame supported for movement relative to said snapping roll frame, and a hopper pivoted at one end to one of said units and flexibly supported at its other end on the other of said units for conveying ears of corn to said husking unit in any position of said snapping roll unit relative to said husking unit.

11. A corn picker comprising a transverse rigid axle, a snapping roll unit including a snapping roll frame rigidly fixed to'said axle, snapping rolls journaled for rotation on said frame and an elevator for conveying ears of corn rearwardly from said snapping rolls, a draft frame pivotally connected to said axle and having a portion extending rearwardly thereof, a transversely disposed husking unit carried at the rear end of said driving frame, said snapping rofl frame and axle being rockable about the axis of said supporting wheels relative to said draft frame for raising and lowering the front end of said snapping roll frame, a transversely disposed hopper pivotally connected at one end to said husking unit, a member rigidly connected at its forward portion to said snapping roll frame and extending rearwardly therefrom, and a roller having a swiveled connection with the other end of said hopper and supporting said other end of the latter on said rearwardly extending member so as to accommodate the relative movement between said hopper and said snapping roll unit when the latter is rocked about the axis of said supporting wheels relative to said husking unit.

12. In a corn picker, a snapping roll unit, husking mechanism, a hopper for delivering ears of corn from the snapping roll unit to said husking mechanism, and a fan arranged to discharge a blast of air into the hopper for removing leaves and other loose material coming over from the snapping roll unit with the ears.

13. In a corn picker, the combination with a husking unit and a hopper for delivering ears of corn to the husking unit, of a fan supported by said husking unit and arranged to direct a blast of air backward over the ears of corn moving down the hopper toward the husking mechanism so as to remove leaves and other loose material.

14. In a corn picker, a husking roll unit, a hopper for delivering ears of corn thereto, means supporting one end of said hopper on said husking unit, an ear retarder disposed above the husking rolls, and an air fan disposed above said ear retarder and having adischargethroat arrangedto direct a blast of air overone end of the ear-retarder toward the discharge end of said hopper to remove leaves and other loose material moving toward the husking rolls with the ears of corn, said blast of air being directed generally uniformly over the entire bottom of the hopper.

l5. A corn picker comprising a snapping roll mechanism including an elevator, a husking roll unit, a hopper disposed in an inclined position for receiving ears of corn at its upper end from said elevator and delivering the ears at its lower end to said husking mechanism, and a fan arranged to direct a blast of air onto said ears for substan tially all of the time during operation that the ears remain in said hopper.

16. A corn picker comprisinga ,transverse axle, ground wheels journaled for rotation on the its opposite ends to said husking unit and snapends thereof, a picker unit including a frame extending forwardly from and rigidly nxed to said axle, a generally longitudinally extending second frame mounted for pivotal movement on the axle, a drive shaft supported on said generally longitudinally extending frame, a drive shaft supported on said snapping roll frame adjacent the axis of said axle, and universal joint connections between said two drive shafts accommodating motion of said second drive shaft with said snapping roll frame relative to said longitudinally extending frame and said first drive shaft supported thereby. 1

17. A corn picker comprising a transverse axle, ground wheels `iournaled for rotation on the ends thereof, a picker unit including a frame extending forwardly from and rigidly fixed to said axle, a 'generally longitudinally extending second frame mounted for pivotal movement on the axle, a longitudinally extending power shaft supported for rotation on said second frame, a gear housing on the latter, gears in said housing connected to said power shaft, a transversely disposed drive shaft connected to said gears for receiving power therefrom, a second transversely disposed drive shaft supported on said snapping roll frame adjacent the axis of said axle, and universal joint connections between said two drive shafts accommodating motion of said second drive shaft with said snapping roll frame relative to said longitudinally extending frame and said first drive shaft supported thereby.

18. A corn picker comprising a transverse axle, ground wheels journaled for rotation on the ends thereof, a picker unit including a frame extending forwardly from and rigidly fixed to said axle, a second frame extending generally longitudinally fore and after of said axle and mounted for pivotal movement on the latter, a husking unit carried rearwardly of said axle on said second frame, a drive housing supported on said generally longitudinally extending frame, gear means disposed therein, a pair of shafts supported for rotation in said housing and receiving said gear means, a transverse shaft supported on said picker frame closely adjacent to the axis of said axle, universal joint means connected withbne of said rst mentioned shafts for driving said transverse shaft, and means for driving said husking unit from the other of said pair of shafts.

19. 'I'he combination set forth in claim 18 wherein an elevator is carried on said picker frame and is driven by suitable connections from said transverse shaft.

20. A corn picker comprising a transverse axle. ground wheels journaled on the ends of said axle. a snapping roll frame rigidly secured to said axle, a generally longitudinally extending draft frame having rocking connection with said axle and extending rearwardly therefrom, adjusting means acting between said draft frame and said snapping roll frame for rocking the latter on said axle relative to said draft frame to raise and lower the front portion of said snapping roll frame, snapping roll mechanism carried by the latter, an elevator for receiving ears of corn from said mechanism and also carried by said snapping roll frame, husking means carried by said draft frame rearwardly of said axle and in a position to receive ears of corn from said elevator, a transverse shaft supported on said axle, means for driving said snapping roll mechanism from said shaft, means for driving said elevator from said driving means, a power shaft supported on said draft frame, means including universal joint means for for driving said husking means from said powerv shaft.

21. A corn picker as defined in claim 20 wherein a wagon elevator is supported on said draft frame v and is driven by said power shaft.

22. A corn picker comprising snapping mechaanism, conveying mechanism extending. rear-f wardly therefrom, a husking unit including a plurality of transversely extending husking rolls disposed behind said snapping mechanism, a hopper disposed behind said conveying mechanism and inclined laterally downwardly toward said husking mechanism for receiving ears of corn from said conveying mechanism and delivering the ears to said husking mechanism, and a fan arranged to -direct a blast of air upwardly through the hopper and transversely of the direction of travel of the ears of corn from said snapping mechamsm.

23. A corn picker comprising longitudinally ex- 25 tending snapping'rolls, an endless conveyor disposed alongside said rolls and movable rearwardly and upwardly therefrom, a plurality of husking rolls disposed transversely at the rear of said snapping rolls, a transversely disposed hopper inof said conveyor toward said husking rolls and arranged to receive ears of corn which are dropped from said conveyor and to deliver them laterally to said husking rolls, and a. fan arranged 'to direct a blast of air through said hopper from said husking rolls transversely under the end of said 24. A corn picker comprising longitudinally extending snapping rolls, an endless conveyor disposed alongside said rolls and movable rearwardv1y and upwardly therefrom, a plurality of husking rolls dispose'd transversely at the rear of said snapping rolls and oifset at one side thereof, a transversely disposed hopper inclined laterally downwardly under the rear end of said conveyor towardsaid husking rolls and arranged to receive ears of corn which are dropped from said conveyor and to deliver them laterally to said husking rolls, and a fan mounted above said husking rolls for directing a blast of air through the hopper against the movement of corn therein and transversely of the stream of corn `falling from. the conveyor.

WILLIAM J. COULTAB.` NOLAN D. COLVIN.

v clined laterally downwardly under the rear end 

